Fr. Désiré was born on March 10, 1959 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. After finishing his scholastic formation he joined the Order, thus becoming one of the first Congolese young boys in Carmelite Religious life. After the Novitiate he made his first profession on September 16, 1979.  He followed his studies in Philosophy and Theology in Kinshasa and Bunia (in Congo) and was ordained a priest on July 3, 1986.  Father Désiré, obtained a degree in Sacred Liturgy from the Pontifical Institute of Saint Anselm in Rome.  In the following years he has held several responsibilities in the Order both in the Congo and in Italy, among which: Vice Master of Novices, Vice Parish Priest, local Bursar and Prior, animator for Vocation Promotion, Rector of the students, Counsellor of the Provincial Commissariate of the Congo, and the third Provincial Commissary of the Congo from 2003 to 2007.  In the General Chapter of 2007, he was elected General Counsellor, responsible for the geographic area of Africa and for Evangelization to serve for a six year term 2007-2013.